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EPA chief says RFS decision coming ‘soon’

In a conference call with reporters, EPA administrator Gina McCarthy was asked when she expects to announce a final decision on 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard volumes.

McCarthy’s answer was “soon”. She says the agency wants to make sure they get it right.

“It has become very clear to me that, in the comments we received on the proposed rule, there’s some general concern in two different ways—not only about what the volumes of the fuels are, but the way in which we’re adjusting those volumes—and whether or not the way we’re doing it is really going to continue to push our joint interest in getting biofuels more and more into the system,” McCarthy says.

The head of the Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen, offered this assessment.

“My interest is that they get it right more than they get it fast,” Dinneen says, “but everybody would benefit from some certainty.”

The RFS decision was expected to happen in June. There’s speculation in Washington that it could be September before it is announced.